Reinforced collapsible paperboard container



J. E. BORAH REINFORCED COLLAPSIBLE PAPERBOARD CONTAINER Filed Dec. 23, 1942 IN VEN TOR.

2421238 ii I 1 Iii-Iii":

employed, driven through the paper board memhere for anchorage Within members 22. Where the latter type of driven securing members are utilized, it will be obvious that neither the paper board container parts nor the members 22'need ployed, they may assume the characteristics illustrated in Figs. 3 to 7. The securing member 24,

illustrated in Figs. 3 to 5, comprises a cylindrical shank 25 having a large head 26 at one end and a smaller rounded head 21 at the other end. Head 21 and shank 25 are provided with two or more substantially equi-angularly disposed longitudinal slots or kerfs 28 which terminate short of head 28, and divide the shank and head 21 into a plurality of similar longitudinal parts which are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the width of shoulders-'29 formed between the head portion 21 and shank 25 of each longitudinal or divided fastener part. The securing members 24 are preferably formed of wood or plastic material which has at least a slight degree of resilience, whereby said longitudinal parts may be flexed radially inwardly with their radial faces in engagement at their outer ends adjacent head portions 21. The diameter of shank portion 25 is preferably slightly less than that of the openings in the paper board box parts and in member 22, and the normal or expanded diameter of head 21 is preferably slightly greater than that of said openings by an amount just sumcient to permit solid anchorage of shoulders 29 with the face of member 22 around its opening. To facilitate insertion of a wooden member 24 through such an opening in member 22, the

width of each kerf 28 at head portion 2! is preferably slightly greater than atthe'remainder of said kerf, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The spacing of the inner faces of the opposed heads 26 and 21 is equal to or slightly less than the thickness of the parts through'which the securing member passes whereby said securing members hold the parts connected thereby firmly in face engagement. Where the spacing is less, the paper board parts are slightly compressed in the operation of applying the securing member.

The construction of fastener illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 is substantially the same as that above described, except that it is hollow as when made from sheet metal. Thus a shank 30 is formed from tubular material slotted longitudinally in equi-angular relation at ,3! for the major portion of its length to define transversely arcuate spaced longitudinal shank portions. An outwardly flaring flange 32 is formed at the unslotted end of the shank. A cup-shaped head comprising a circular plate 33 having its margin 34 spun or otherwise bent around flange 32 is mounted on the rigid end of the shank. The shank portions are configured at their slotted ends to provide a substantially. perpendicularly outwardly directed shoulder 35, and they terminate in inwardly bent end portions 36 tapered from shoulders 35.

It will be observed that the use of expansible fasteners as above described makes assembly of the containers very simple and quick Thus the assembler can start the operation at one of the top openingaholding the parts together with the openings in register withone hand, and applying the fasteners from the outside with the number in large containers.

other hand. No special tools are required. Of equal importance is the fact that the shoulders of the fasteners anchor against solid members 22. Three fasteners in each end of each box panel will be ample in most containers, but two can be used with small containers, or a larger The outer heads of the fasteners 24 can be of decorative contour if desired. The members 22 can be made of cedar wood in the case of domestic storage containers or cabinets to facilitate exclusion of moths. The

, container can easily be disassembled by compress.

ing the slotted head engaging the member 22 and then pushing it out. For this purpose, the small size of slotted head 27 will avoid excessive enlargement of the openings in the paper parts during the extracting operation, and the securing member need not be removed from the outermost paper board part to insure minimum tearing, breakage or enlargement ofthe holes in'the paper board parts. The cover tab l9- maybe inserted between member 22 and the adjacent paper board part at its ends to facilitate tight retention thereof and full sealing of the container, if desired. For this purpose one end of the upper member 22 on the front of the container may be of slightly reduced thickness or stepped formation.

The embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in Figs, 8 to 12, inclusive, utilizes paper board blanks of substantially the same construction described above, and the same-reference numerals have been applied thereto. The difference between thisconstruction and that of the Fig. 1 embodiment resides primarily in the joint construction by which the box parts are interconnected and assembled.

Referring particularly to Figs. 9 and 11, in which thejoint structure is best illustrated, it will be observed that an elongated bar 40 extends for substantially the full lengthof each joint between the main body blank and the end blanks. Bar has a pair of parallel longitudinal slots 4! and 4-2 out or formed therein from opposite faces of the bar, whereby the bar is substantially S-shaped in cross section. Bars 40 are formed of wood such as cedar for storage containers, plastic or other rigid material, and preferably have a plurality of spaced opening 43 formed therein with their axes perpendicular. to slots GI and 42. The width of the lots is either the same or slightly less than the thickness of the paper board, whereby the margins of the paper board blanks fits snugly therein. Slot 4! receives the margin of one of the panels of the main body blank, that is, the margin of the front, bottom or back of the container. Slot 42 receives one of the flanges 2! of the end blank,[and is preferably of a depth to receive the full extent of said flange. The wall portion 44 defining the outer face of slot 62 may terminateshort of the outer edge of the bar to facilitate the po. sitioning of end wall 29 flush with or insetrelative to said bar edge 45. The ends of the bars 40 at the lower corners of the container are preferably beveled.

In the assembly of this container; the bars 48 are preferably applied to the edges of the main blank, upon which they fit snugly enough to retain their position during normal handling. The flanges 2| of the end blanks may then be inserted in the receiving slots 42 therefor, to be held therein in like manner. The paper board blanks are either provided with preformed holes punched therein for registration with holes 43 in the bars,

or holes may be punched therein by the assembler, using a suitabl hand tool, such as a knife or pick, aft-er the parts are operatively assembled, and using the holes 43 as a guide. Fasteners, such as expansible fasteners 24 of the type described above, or spread fasteners, are then inserted through the openings to lock the parts. It will be observed, however, that the construction is also ideal for nailing or stapling, since the embracing of the paper board parts to be penetrated by nails, tacks or staples, protects said parts against crushing incident to the necessary impact of nailing.

This box possesses the advantage of reinforcement at its joints, and particularly at its vertical edges. Another advantage is the protection of the container edges against impacts in handling and use. Thus the outer edges of bars 40 are either flush with or outwardly ofi-set from the faces of adjacent box panels, so that they are positioned to sustain the impacts to which the container is subjected. The snug embracing of the paper board parts at the joints, Which permits the container to be set up and held in operative position preparatory to application of securing members is also a distinct advantage, particularly in connection with domestic storage containers which are sold in knock-down form and which must be assembled by the purchasers who are usually inexperienced in such work.

The upper transverse edge of the front wall I5 of the container may mount an elongated rigid bar 49 provided with a central longitudinal groove to fit snugly around said upper marginal portion of said wall. Bar 46 serves to protect and reinforce the container and particularly it front wall. Additionally, bar 46 serves to rigidly support th free end of cover panel 13. Bar 46 may have one or more transverse holes 4'! formed intermediate the ends thereof to receive locking pins 48, preferably slotted longitudinally, which may be secured to the container by means of a cord 49 stapled or otherwise secured at 50 to the bar adjacent said opening. The flange I9 of the cover panel may have hole 5! therein for registration with hole 41 in bar 43, as illustrated in Fig. 10. Thus the container may be effectively sealed and locked'when intended for domestic storage use.

To further increase the strength of the container, an elongated expansible fastener 52 may be used at the upper portions of the container to extend from front to back thereof in a position underlying upper end flange 2|, as illustrated in Fig. 12. This construction provides a reinforcement for the upper edges of the container ends, and prevents the cover from collapsing into the container when the containers are stacked, etc.

Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate an embodiment of the invention which is of recessed end construction. This embodiment utilizes paper board blanks of the same construction as the other embodiment, except that the flanges 2! of end blanks 20 are bent outwardly. Rigid bars 55 of U-section whose longitudinal grooves are wide enough to receive snugly two thicknesses of paper board, interconnect the container panels. These bars may have spaced transverse holes therein to receive fasteners 24 or other securing members; or staples, tacks or nails may be driven therein and through the embraced paper board parts. To permit tight closing of the container cover, the slot at the upper end of each of the front vertical bars 55 may be somewhat wider to permit the ends of the cover flange l9 to be tucked and held therein. This embodiment of container possesses the same advantages as the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 8, and also the advantage of an unobstructed interior space.

It will be understood that the three piece container construction illustrated is illustrative only, and that containers formed of two body blanks, or of four or more body blanks, may be constructed utilizing the joint structures herein illustrated, if desired.

I claim:

1. A container formed from a plurality of paper board blanks and having a folding cover and a cover tab folded from the free edge of said cover, some of said blanks having marginal flanges bent inwardly alongside the marginal portions of adjacent angularly disposed blanks, a plurality of vertical and horizontal rigid edgeforming bars each having a pair of spaced longitudinal grooves to respectively snugly receive and retain one of said marginal blank portions and connect said blanks, the upper end portions of one groove in each of the vertical bars at the front of the container being of increased width to receive the ends of said cover tab and means for securing said interfitting blank portions and bars.

2. A container formed from a plurality of paper board blanks and having a folding cover, some of said blanks having marginal horizontal and vertical flanges bent into parallel relation to the marginal portions of adjacent angularly disposed blanks, a plurality of vertical and horizontal rigid edge-forming bars grooved longitudinally to snugly receive and retain said marginal blank portions to connect said blanks in box form, means for securing said interfitting blank portions and bars, and elongated rods having an enlarged head at one end and a longitudinally split headed opposite end extending through and between the upper ends of the vertical bars at each container end to underlie and support the upper horizontal marginal flanges of opposite blanks and the margins of said cover bearing on said last named flanges.

JOHN E. BORAI-I.

nErEnENcns crrnn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,274,048 Derman Feb. 24, 1942 2,220,373 Krauser et al Nov. 5, 1940 1,723,246 Manson Aug. 6, 1929 2,269,247 Borah Jan. 6 1942 2,060,039 Carmichael et al. Nov. 10, 1936 1,933,099 Derman Oct. 31, 1933 2,088,315 Zalkind July 27, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 133,903 Great Britain Oct. 23, 1919 

